crumble

[ kruhm-buhl ]

verb (used with object)

, crum·bled, crum·bling.

1. to break into small fragments or crumbs.

   Synonyms: shatter, mash

verb (used without object)

, crum·bled, crum·bling.

1. to fall into small pieces; break or part into small fragments.

   Synonyms: disintegrate

2. to decay or disintegrate gradually:

   The ancient walls had crumbled.

noun

1. a crumbly or crumbled substance.
2. crumbles, bits of crisp bacon, bread, etc., added to other foods, especially as a topping.
3. British Dialect. crumb; particle; fragment.

crumble

/ ˈkrʌmbəl /

verb

1. to break or be broken into crumbs or fragments
2. intr to fall apart or away

   his resolution crumbled

noun

1. a baked pudding consisting of a crumbly mixture of flour, fat, and sugar over stewed fruit

   apple crumble

Other Words From

• crumbling·ness noun
• half-crumbled adjective
• un·crumbled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crumble¹

1375–1425; earlier crymble, crimble; late Middle English kremelen, akin to crome crumb; -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of crumble¹

C16: variant of crimble, of Germanic origin; compare Low German krömeln, Dutch kruimelen

Idioms and Phrases

see that's how the ball bounces (cookie crumbles) .

Example Sentences

You could turn the cherries into a crisp or crumble, but for Beranbaum, a crunchy brown sugary topping isn’t nearly as good as a tender pie crust.

From Washington Post

Their skillets are perfect for any number of kitchen tasks whether you’re frying chicken, searing a steak or making a crumble.

From Time

Bake oats into muffins and bread, or incorporate them into a crisp or crumble topping.

From Washington Post

Rather than the traditional whole walnut to decorate the center of the cookie, I’ve gone with a crave-worthy crumble of walnuts, coconut and brown sugar, laced with five-spice powder.

From Washington Post

If you want to simplify this recipe, you can simply add a whole walnut to the center, in place of the crumble.

From Washington Post

It's about the delicate fabric of the universe and how our fragile insides crumble when that fabric is torn.

From The Daily Beast

There is no better thing on a Sunday afternoon than a fruity, molten, crunchy crumble.

From The Daily Beast

But the illusions of peace and tranquility soon crumble around them like a patch of freshly laid snow.

From The Daily Beast

But, Ali warns all that can change quickly if Anbar continues to crumble, “right now, we are looking into the Abyss.”

From The Daily Beast

For such a source of outward joy to crumble so violently, what the hell happened?

From The Daily Beast

The self-centred, confident man in him that deemed itself indispensable must crumble.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps he was rather doing one of those useless and splendid things that alone among man's contrivances do not crumble and fall.

From Project Gutenberg

Remember that it is uncertain as to size and that the walls are liable to crumble.

From Project Gutenberg

The luxury of Broadwood would have to crumble: his mind was very clear about that.

From Project Gutenberg

Only when the radiance became dim did the mass grow cold and crumble in pieces which retained but the semblance of a spark.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• break up
• collapse
• crush
• decay
• degenerate
• deteriorate
• disintegrate
• dissolve
• grind
• tumble